Engine restore - Would you?

Wow! It brings compression on the #2 cylinder from 106 to 158. Well worth the $20 or so. It is a must for all worn out Ferrari engines.

BT

 

Don't laugh, and no, I have never used restore. But:

I know of several chevy mechanics that use it, and say it definitely helps. I have argued with them about this being snake oil, etc...and they agree that most of the stuff on the market is crap. But they point out that Restore has been around forever, and folks ahve used it for a long time. They add it to their 100,000 mile plus SUV's, etc. They say it doesn't do "magic", but does help with compression.

I suspect its an "oil" thickener.

I haven't used it, but know several mechanics that do, on cheap high mileage american cars.

I guess anything that thickens your oil will aid compression, though have other negative effects. I suspect this is soething you pour into your engine 10 minutes before you trade it in, to get rid of smoke... ;(.

Anyone else use it?

 

I have used it before and can say it definitely works. And it's pretty hard to impress me after 16 years as a professioal mechanic. The trick is to use it at least at every other oil change. Makes a big difference of high mileage engines.

And AFIK, it doesn't "thicken" the oil. I'm not up on the science of it but it is supposed to fill in scratches in the cyliners and bearing surfaces on a microscopic level. The only drawback is it isn't permanant, which necessitates the every or every other oil chage interval.

Dave

 

It sounds like this stuff is similar to the additives in the newer "high mileage" motor oils that are being sold now. Supposedly, they condition seals, adhere better to worn surfaces, etc. to improve performance on high mileage motors. I have not seen any scientific studies or reports on whether they actually work, but the anecdotal reports seem to say that they are beneficial. I wouldn't buy all of their claims, but if it prolongs the life of an older engine, could be worth giving it a try.

 

Not sure about the UK, but you can pick that stuff up at just about any parts house in the US. Can't hurt anything, so give it a shot.

 

I dont use this stuff other than on high mileage cars that I think might have gummed up rings, but Gunks Motor Flush has fixed several cars I have toyed with. The two greatest were a 88 Mercedes 300E with 167K miles, and a Honda Civic with I dunno how many.

The MB was using a quart 300-400 miles, and would load up and chug at long stop lights. The Honda would pour out incredible blinding volumes when started cold, fill the entire yard with thick white smoke. I poured a can into each with a slightly warm engine and idled them about 10 minutes and drained. The crap that poured out was totally black and had particles, probably garbage that washed onto the pan.

Both cars never burned oil after that. I sold the MB at just under 200K and she would run to 3500 miles without using any. The Honda was simular. My belief is the oil rings were carboned up.

I dont know what Restore does, but if it will seal and fill places in the cylinder wall, I would be curious what else it might be gumming up. I would almost rather the car burned some oil than pour some kind of junk in that plugs stuff up. I feel better knowing its clean inside and let the oil do its job. Although, I do like to use Marvel Mystery Oil on high mile motors. Its the ONLY oil additive that has ever been approved by the FAA for aircraft engines. All the others are illegal to use, including Restore.

 

I guess I should add though, its probably just as illegal to use Motor Flush on an airplane engine

 

Care to elaborate more about this Mystery Oil? I've seen it before at my local mom&pop parts place, but I'm always immediately skeptical about anything with the word "mystery" in the name....

 

I dont really know anyone who knows whats in it. I dont know if its synthetic, semi synthetic, or what. I know the stuff has been around long before I was breathing air. I remember when I was younger seeing older guys buying it and swearing by the stuff. I worked for an aircraft engine rebuilder and spent most of my time R&Ring aircraft engines and doing annuals, etc. Had a lot of grey hairs coming in with 30 plus year old Cessnas and the like. Many still cranking thier original motors with high time. Heard some of the most interesting discussions hanging around that place.

The guy I worked for, who had been rebuilding engines since the early 50's, claimed it (MMO) was amazing stuff, but cautioned putting it into newly overhauled engines, but to wait until they had 500 or more hours. He said it was to slippery and the rings would NEVER seat.

But on older engines it has a strong detergent quality, and has shown strong evidence it reduces wear. A side benefit is that it has strong corrosion protection on engines that sit for long periods. He claimed that he had seen many engines that had shown low leakdowns had recovered and ran top numbers after running MMO for a just 25 hours or so, and maintained those numbers for a long time. The thinking was that the detergent qualities may have freed up the rings and allowed them to function properly, and the lubricating properties extended thier life.

If you add one quart to a 308, you can feel it on the stick, it gets a very slippery feel to it. When I bought the first car, I didnt know it but it had a burned piston. Many people I spoke with felt it may have only been stuck rings, and some MMO down the spark plug holes and let it sit might free them. I also added a quart into the oil. Later when I pulled that motor apart, I remember how slippery all the parts were. Not only that but the stuff is hard to wash off. I still dont use it very often, its kinda spendy. But before I would ever condemn an engine I would flush it and run MMO in it a while and see. I would not however, ever put some kind of glue or sealer into an engine. If its worn out to the point its really burning oil and flushing it wont help, it needs an overhaul not a can of crap. I mean, I might pour it into something I really didnt care for, but certainly nothing worth good money.

 

Did you add it to your 308's transaxle? If not, how could you "...feel it on the stick..." by adding it to the crankcase?

 

It just might be, Frank. The shifter shaft on the 308 traverses the oil pan and so it might just make the shift shaft seals more slippery.

 

the 'stick' he's reffering to is the dip stick, the one that tells you how much oil you have in the pan

 

That makes sense then...

 

Gang, I suggest we go to Bobistheoilguy.com, and all your answers will be answered on Marvel Mystery Oil and Restore. I belong to it as do many others from this site Fchat, such as Dr. AE Haas.

I use Marvel or MMO, as does the US Armed Forces, by the 55gal. drums. It is currently owned by the people who own Turtle Wax Products. It was invented by a group of Buick engineers back in 1923 or thereabouts for upper cylinder lubrication of the valves, guides and ring packs. The name Marvel came from the Marvel (Schebler I believe) Carburator that Buick and GM was using in those days. It frees up the ring packs and decarbonizes somewhat and is inexpensive, $10. a gallon at Wmart. I use it in ALL my older cars. New cars don't need it as they don't have the problems.

Restore works too! Better in some types of engines than others. Mahle, the famous German manufacturer of Pistons and Rings, also has a product similar to restore that fills in scratches and gaps in cylinder walls etc. They know something about their business so I would recommend their product. It may be less costly in Europe too., than Restore.

Ciao...Paolo